Beverly Ann Mackey

Beverly Ann (Wright) Mackey, 92, earned her gold tipped angel wings Friday evening, November 7th, 2025, at her home in Moore, Ok, with her youngest daughter at her bedside. The first of two daughters, she was born April 30th,1933, Wesley Hospital, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to James Harry and Dorthea Louise (Ritter) Wright. Underweight, frail and sickly, a blend of bananas and canned milk was all her tiny stomach could digest in her first nine months of life. 1938 she contracted polio, leaving one leg slightly shorter. A successful polio vaccination wouldn't be available until 1955.

'Bev' grew up in northwest Oklahoma City, attending Hawthorn Elementary School, Taft Junior High, and Classen High School. Her education included shorthand, typing and Latin. Typing over 100wpm ensured her a secretarial position at Tinker Air Force Base after graduating HS in 1951. She audited numerous courses at the University of Oklahoma, to further her education...for FREE!
In 1966 she secured a business loan and became founder/owner of Et Cetera, a Bethany gift shop showcasing ceramics she made in the family garage. Defined as 'and so on', the name allowed the inventory to expand endlessly. Originally located on the ground floor of Western Oaks Professional Tower, it soon outgrew its location and moved to Western Oaks Shopping Center, NW 23 & Rockwell. After completing Hallmark Cards Retail Services Training Program, greeting cards and more were available to customers. A second location opened for a short time in Edmond, at 2nd and Broadway, north of the Edmond Sun Newspaper. Et Cetera moved a mile west to its final and largest location in DeVille Shopping Center, Bethany. Here, she partnered with Enesco and Precious Moments. The store became a community icon for nearly 30 years. Customers knew they would receive friendly help (mostly family members), high quality items, fabulously wrapped gifts free of charge, and in the best smelling store in town. 1995, the doors closed and Bev's retirement began.

In the mid 90's Bev was a frequent columnist in Precious Moments Collectors quarterly magazine, penning the name "Shrinky Dink Lady". Here she talked about PM figurines and tied them in with stories of her family/friends. One issue was titled "All about RDKG - My Mom!" Residential Domestic Kitchen Goddess. Bev would make Shrinky Dinks of PM drawings, and donate 100% of money to Easter Seals, a charity Enesco/PM supported.

In 65 plus years of service to the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), her rolls included Elder, Deacon, Sunday school teacher, Sr High Youth Sponsor, camp counselor at Dwight Mission, VBS Director and Trainer, member of 2nd Presbyterian (OKC), Westminster Presbyterian (OKC) and Santa Fe Presbyterian (Edmond) churches, Indian Nations Presbytery Chair. Recognized twice by Presbyterian Women's Group for her dedication to Christian Education, she received her Honorary Lifetime Membership. She developed and built a teacher resource curriculum library for Santa Fe Presbyterian Church over the years. Known for art and crafts, she kept young and old hands busy with a wide array of mediums. Her humor could be found everywhere, including behind the pulpit. One fall, "Boo! ...greetings from the Holy Ghost" kept the Minister working hard to contain his laughter in front of the congregation. At her tallest, Bev reached 4'11 ¾". One Sunday worship, she stood up to make an announcement. The minister jokingly asked her to stand. "I am!", she laughed. The following Sunday, she climbed onto the seat of her chair to make another announcement in the sanctuary! Spunky lady, full of life, and truly loved by many.

Always busy, Bev enjoyed family, friends, gardening, Fireball 'cough syrup', painting, rubber stamping, playing bridge, mahjong, dominos, and Tripoli. She kept the USPS in business with thousands of handmade cards she sent to friends and family over the years. Asked what she wanted for her birthday or Christmas, she would usually reply, "Postage stamps!".

She will be deeply missed by her children Mike Mackey and wife Terri (Moore), Pat Cassil and husband Steve (Bethany), and Jan Mackey Dowlearn (Moore),, grandchildren James "Matt" Ventress of OKC, Justin Dowlearn of OKC, Sterling Dowlearn and Laura Wanke of Lawton, Shawn Cassil (Bethany), Laura Cassil (Portland, OR), Blake Mackey and wife Courtney (Moore), Kendra Thiel and husband Adam (Moore), great-grandchildren, Lennah Wanke, Blaze Mackey, Paisley Thiel, River Mackey, and Aspen Mackey, sister Patricia Lou Creamer (Edmond), cousins Craig Cole and wife Ruby (Edmond), cousin Kenalea Lloyd of Montana, favorite (& only) niece Jamie Sanderson and husband Blake, (Bradenton, FL), nephew Charles 'Chuck' Creamer and wife Kristin of Edmond, Chris Elam, wife Jenny, children Henry, Lola, Charlotte, Leisa (Elam), husband Michael Cole, and daughter Ella Dot (Myrtle Beach, SC), Nathan Creamer & wife Maddie (Ft Worth, TX), Ethan Creamer (Edmond), Regan Creamer (Ft Collins, CO), Close and dear friends Joe Elam Jr., Laurie Wilson, Steve Weed, and James Lupton.

Bev is preceded in death by her parents James Harry and Dorthea Louise (Ritter) Wright, former husband and dear friend Marion Mackey, aunts, uncles and cousins Ira A "Bud" Wright, Evelyn " Lucy" (Wright) Miller, Ruth (Wright) Roy, Carrie (Wright) Webb, Richard Buell Wright and wife Rosena (Wallen), Myrtle (Wright) Doyle, Doris (Wright) and Jim Snow, and Robby Wright, Ruthmary (Miller) & Kenneth Spire, Helen (Ritter) & husband Mev Meyer, and Joe Allen Roy.  

A memorial service for Bev will be held at 1:00PM on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at Santa Fe Presbyterian Church located at 1603 N Santa Fe. in Edmond, OK with Rev Stephanie Arnold Workman officiating.  Guest attire: Lime Green and/or bright colors.  Memory sharing is encouraged.  A reception will follow the memorial service.

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